Colts QB Anthony Richardson is about to play in biggest game of his career. Is he ready?

INDIANAPOLIS — When Anthony Richardson takes the field against the Denver Broncos this Sunday with the Indianapolis Colts’  playoff hopes hanging in the balance, it will mark a significant moment in his budding career. The 22-year-old quarterback is poised to make his 14th NFL start, one more than he tallied in three college seasons.

What’s the biggest lesson he has learned between then and now?

“Try not to be Superman all of the time,” Richardson said. “I’ve always been able to create big plays, and that’s kind of been a thing of mine that I always wanted to do as a player. And understanding as a quarterback, sometimes you need those Superman plays, (but) sometimes you just gotta be a regular guy.”

Those around Richardson, now just over two years removed from his last game as a Florida Gator, say he’s a different player. Colts coach Shane Steichen noted Richardson’s pocket presence, delivery and decision-making when using his legs as areas he has significantly improved. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter sees Richardson as one of those rare QBs who has the clutch gene, as evidenced by Richardson leading the team on two game-winning TD drives in Indy’s past three games.

“He’s unfazed by the big moments,” Cooter said. “I think a lot of times in this league, you play in big games or big drives or big plays, and some guys try to really amp themselves up and sort of maybe get themselves too fired up, too amped up for these things. Anthony does a nice job of really being steady in those moments.”

Though Richardson has surely improved, how many surefire declarations can be made about him when he hasn’t played a full NFL campaign? A season-ending shoulder injury last year and an oblique injury followed by a two-game benching this year have curtailed Richardson’s ability to gain the one thing the Colts have always claimed he needed: experience.

Bo Nix, the rookie quarterback who starts opposite of Richardson at Empower Field at Mile High, is on the other end of the experience spectrum. And their matchup highlights just how young and inexperienced Richardson still is.

Although Richardson is playing in his second pro season, Nix is older and much more experienced despite both QBs gearing up for their 14th NFL starts. Nix, who is 24, started 13 games as a true freshman at Auburn, the same number Richardson started in three seasons at Florida. Nix finished his college career with an NCAA-record 61 starts at quarterback across three years at Auburn and two more at Oregon. He has played in the Iron Bowl and the Pac-12 championship, and he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

“Definitely a talented player, man,” said Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones, who faced Nix twice in the SEC. “He can make anything work with his feet and with his arm, so he’s definitely a quarterback that’s up-and-coming in this league, and he’s putting it on display right now.”

Nix has thrown 17 touchdowns against eight interceptions this season, including seven TDs against two picks during the Broncos’ current three-game winning streak. Richardson has played well, too, since returning to the starting lineup. He has registered six total touchdowns against two interceptions in his past three games, highlighted by a season-saving 19-play, 80-yard touchdown drive at the New England Patriots in Week 13.

Steichen believes Richardson will greatly benefit from being tested in another hostile environment Sunday, especially since he hasn’t played on a ton of big stages. As the Colts look to gain ground on the Broncos for the final AFC playoff spot, Sunday is arguably the biggest game of Richardson’s career, though he doesn’t see it that way.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the biggest one of my career,” Richardson said. “I feel like every game is a big game. The last one we just played was a big game. Every game I approach is a big game to me, so I’m just trying to get a W.”

Regardless of the semantics, the Colts’ playoff hopes are all but riding on Sunday’s game. Indianapolis has a 27 percent chance of making the postseason, per The Athletic’s NFL Projection Model. However, a win would pull the Colts within one victory of the Broncos for the final AFC playoff spot and give Indy the tiebreaker over Denver if both teams finish with the same record. According to the model, they’d have a 61 percent chance of making the playoffs if they beat Denver versus just a 10 percent chance if they lose.

In other words, it’s a must-win matchup, which Richardson said is the result of the team climbing out of the hole it dug for itself. The Colts will need some help during their final four regular-season games to get all the way out, but Richardson is more focused on how they can help themselves.

During the bye week, Richardson said he took a trip to his home state of Florida for some “sunshine,” but he was never fully checked out. Steichen heard from him constantly, with the two exchanging video clips and going over play calls.

“The guys told me to take some time off, but the next day (after the New England game), I hit coach Shane up like, ‘I know it’s a bye week, but what you got on Denver?’” Richardson said. “I was trying to get as much information as I could ahead of (game) week so when we did come back here, it was a little bit easier for me to get back into the routine.”

Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. appreciates Richardson’s unrelenting focus, especially considering what’s at stake. Pittman hasn’t tasted the playoffs since his rookie season in 2020, which he thought was “easy” and would be a yearly experience. But in 2021, the Colts came up one win short of a postseason berth, and last year, as an injured Richardson watched from the sideline, it happened again. Now that Indianapolis has positioned itself for another postseason shot this year, a lot falls on Richardson’s shoulders to seize the moment. Pittman believes he will, as the talented yet inexperienced QB looks to take another step forward in his maturation.

“He’s a young guy, but as he gets more experience, those (big) games are gonna come,” Pittman said. “This is gonna be the first of many for him.”